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Workplace Tech Trends for 2018

The projected practices set to take off in the coming year.

Playing games and not showing up for work. Sounds like everything that could destabilize the world of employment, right? Not so. These tech-based practices are transforming work into a place that people want to be, and a job into something that serves both employee and employer in a mutually beneficial way. AI, VR, and the evergreen concern of cybersecurity also held sway in 2017.

Nothing moves faster than technology. This amazing information reveals the pace at which tech is advancing. The businesses that keep an eye on tech trends will be the ones who gain speed right along with it. The future is always hard to predict, but getting on board early with new tech is often the smartest move. Here’s our heads up to give you a head start in 2018.

Working from home will become more common

According to this study by the Freelancer’s Union, growth in the independent employee sector has been on the rise for many years. The study ranks this on par with the Industrial Revolution with how much it’s set to change the work landscape. More than 50 million of us earn our paycheck with a freelance lifestyle rather than a 9 to 5. Even though this means close to 1 in 3 of us could be classified as a freelancer, it’s a small figure in comparison to the $715 billion these professionals add to the U.S. economy every year.

The freelance market is growing apace with technology. As more and more retail stores close up physical shop and move into unlimited cyberspace, a brick and mortar office is looking increasingly less necessary as the future arrives. Work from home jobs (and the sites that offer them) are numerous, offering independent opportunities in social media, travel, medicine, transport and more. There are projections that within the next seven years, online independent work platforms could boost global GDP by trillions of dollars and create as many as 72 million new jobs.

Gamification

Traditionally recreation-based concepts will alter work in ways other than virtual reality. Gamification channels the traditional elements of a game (following rules, goal-oriented moves, competition, rewards) into the workplace in order to increase employee engagement, boost productivity, solidify a team dynamic, and increase positive peer recognition.

The type of game elements and the nature of the rewards will vary between workplaces, but the act of management assigning targets for their teams in this manner is becoming more and more commonplace.

Ahead in the Cloud

Surveys in 2017 indicate that 57% of businesses are handling their data through some form of cloud computing. Next year, 80% of every IT budget is projected to be dedicated to cloud-based solutions. There’s strong reasoning behind it. Customers want a streamlined experience, being able to purchase items or store data anytime and anywhere; a luxury where cloud efficiency is critical.

There are still security concerns about the cloud, but those wary of it are steadily gaining confidence. By 2021, enterprise spending on cloud services and infrastructure will be more than $530 billion and over 90% of enterprises will use multiple cloud services and platforms.

Directly related to the advancing cloud is artificial intelligence. By 2019, 40% of digital transformation initiatives will use AI services; by 2021, 75% of commercial enterprise apps will use AI. Any business whose apps or service don’t incorporate an element of AI will find themselves falling behind in the progress race.

The Bottom Line

Few sectors are as exciting as technology. The potential for businesses that embrace the possibilities is waiting to be capitalized on in 2018. The companies who keep their finger on the pulse will remain vital, relevant, and in step with both consumers and their competition.

At Consultis, we’ve been delivering first-class project solution, technical search, and contract services since 1984. Contact us to see how we can help find you the IT professionals with the skills to leverage today’s – and tomorrow’s – tech for your business.